IT is hard to say what was more entertaining about this topsy-turvy game between France and Portugal, the action on the field or the reaction of the crowd off of it.

It was the reigning World champions against the reigning European champions. Karim Benzema, Kylian Mbappe, Cristiano Ronaldo all on show. But perhaps the most talked about man? Antonio Miguel Mateu Lahoz.

The Spanish referee awarded three penalties, with at least one being hugely debatable. He could and probably should have given another. And all this was being played out in front of another full house in Budapest as Hungary were giving Germany an almighty scare in Munich.

It made for a compelling spectacle. In the end there were two goals for Ronaldo as he chalked up another couple of records, a double for Benzema on the other side, and broken Hungarian hearts all around as Germany scraped through at their expense late on.

That the French, Portuguese and Germans progressed – in that order – was fully expected at the outset of this so-called ‘group of death’. But the dramatic way it played out should give high-profile critics of the group format at this competition cause to eat some humble pie.

Where to start? Well, Manchester United star Bruno Fernandes was the most notable absentee from the line-ups, the attacking midfielder dropped after a disappointing start to the tournament. But we had the French front three of Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann and Benzema on the field, and of course, that man Ronaldo.

Indeed, it was Portugal’s superstar who was first to threaten, with a trademark leap allowing him to get an early header on target that was dealt with by Hugo Lloris.

The loudest cheer of the opening stages though came from the local neutrals, who celebrated wildly as news of a shock goal for Hungary in Germany filtered through.

If the players on the field had deduced that a Hungary win would leave them first and second in the section, they didn’t show signs of easing off from the promising start to the game. Paul Pogba threaded a beautiful through ball into the path of Mbappe as France sprang forward, but Rui Patricio was equal to his curling effort.

Then it all really kicked off. A free-kick was swung into the French area by Joao Moutinho, and Lloris came out to punch clear. Portuguese defender Danilo got to the ball first though, bravely heading the ball onto Lloris’s hand but taking a clattering elbow to the face in the process.

Referee Lahoz pointed immediately to the spot, and after a pause to ensure that the prone Danilo was ok, Ronaldo stood ready to claim his fourth goal of the tournament. If the penalty award split opinion, the outcome of the spot kick was never really in doubt, and Ronaldo slammed the ball home for the 20th goal he has scored in his outings at European Championships and World Cups combined. Yet another record for the imperious 36-year-old.

If the official had any doubt in his mind about that award, he certainly should have when he awarded another penalty at the other end as Mbappe went down under the merest of contacts from Nelson Semedo. Remarkably though, despite the use of VAR, the harshest of decisions was allowed to stand.

Benzema had missed his last three penalties for France, but he kept his cool to send Patricio the wrong way and drag his side level on the stroke of half-time.

Straight after the restart, he was at it again. Pogba found another brilliant through ball to set Benzema away in behind, and his finish was ice-cool across Patricio and in off the post, only for the curse of the late flag to cut short his celebrations.

Thankfully, VAR actually did its job on this occasion though, and with Benzema found in fact to be level, his second goal of the night stood and saw the reigning champions fall to the foot of the table.

Not for long though, and again, referee Lahoz had a part to play. Ronaldo got to the byline and hammered a cross off French full-back Jules Koundé, and when the ball came back to him, he had another go. This time, the ball cannoned off the defender’s arm, which was raised above his head, and it was yet another penalty.

Ronaldo buried it, and the Germans were in bother again. As for Ronaldo, he now had five goals for the tournament, three of which had come from the spot, and he had pulled level with Ali Daei on 109 goals for the most goals in international history.

A strange silence engulfed the stadium, signalling that there was either a large contingent of irked Iranians in, or Germany had equalised in Munich. Almost immediately though, wild cheers erupted again, with Hungary incredibly hitting the front once more.

The ebb and flow of both matches made for great entertainment, and Pogba brought attention back onto the park here as he unleashed a beauty that Patricio tipped brilliantly onto the post, before the Wolves keeper got up to deny Griezmann on the rebound.

A lull on the pitch thereafter in the later stages was reflected in the stands, with Germany scoring late on to break Hungarian hearts.

There was still time in Budapest though for Kingsley Coman to go down in the box after being raked down the calf by fellow substitute Fernandes, but what looked to arguably be the biggest stonewaller of the night was waved away by the referee.

Group F may have finished the way it was expected to in the standings, but few could have predicted the way it would have played out.